Friday, November 7, 2014

South America All-Time 23 member team excluding Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay

Peru 1970's

I have done all-time teams for Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. This is the team for the rest of South America, excluding players from the three national teams.

If
there were an All-Time World Cup, this would be the 23 players I would
bring to the tournament. The team is not an All-Star team. I tried to
be as realistic as possible. A few of the players are selected for tactical reasons at the expense of more famous players.

Team GK: Jose Luis Chilavert (Paraguay)Known for his freekicks, he was an icon of a generation. He was South American Player of the Year in 1996. Against Argentina in a WCQ in 1997, he promised to score a goal before the match and he did. He led Paraguay to the round of 16 at both WC Finals in 1998 nd 2002. He won 12 club titles, including the 1994 Copa Libertadores and the 1994 Intercontinental Cup, whilst playing for Vélez Sarsfield.

Chilavert

GK:Oscar Cordoba (Colombia)He played for Boca Juniors from 1997 to 2001, perhaps the greatest club side in a generation. He won the Copa Libertadores 2000 and 2001, and the Intercontinental Cup of 2000. He is Colombia's cap record holder for a goalkeeper. GK: Sergio Livingstone (Chile)The greatest keeper in Chile's history. He was of Scottish descent. He was nicknamed "El Sapo" ("The Toad") for his typical posture in the goal mouth. From 1938–59 he played primarily for CD Universidad Católica in Santiago. With Chile he took part in seven South American Championships and one World Cup.RB: Luis Eyzaguirre (Chile)He played right back in the Universidad de Chile football team known as the Ballet Azul, with which he won four national championships.He capped 39 times played in 1962 World Cup Finals at home where Chile reached the semi-final. He was considered the best rightback of his time. RB: Francisco Arce (Paraguay)Part of the great defensive unit of Paraguay in 1998 and 2002. He won the Copa Libertadores in1995 with Gremio, but he spent much of his career with Palmeiras.CB/RB: Ivan Cordoba (Colombia)He is one of Colombia's greatest defenders. He earned over 70 caps for Colombia. He
captained Colombia to win the 2001 Copa América competition, scoring
the only goal in the final. Córdoba also played for his country in
France 1998. He was one of the best defenders in Serie A during his time in Italy. He spent 12 seasons with Inter Milan winning the Champions' League in 2010.

Ivan Cordoba

CB: Hector Chumpitaz (Peru)Peru's captain during their Golden Generation in the 1970's. Peru with him as the captain won the Copa America 1975 and qualified for the 1970 and 1978 World Cups, He was considered one of the best defenders in South America.

CB: Carlos Gamarra (Paraguay)Widely considered a top defender in South America during his peak years. He is the most capped player in Paraguayan football history. He was named as the Paraguayan Footballer of the Year in 1997 and 1998, and was also included in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament. SW: Elias Figueroa (Chile)He was one of the best defenders in South American history. He was named the Brazilian Player of the year award whilst playing for Internacional in 1972 and 1976. He was also awarded the South American Footballer of the Year three times in a row.He played for several clubs during his long career, notably his hometown club Santiago Wanderers, Brazilian club Internacional and Uruguayan club Peñarol. He also represented Chile 47 times, appearing in three world cups, in 1966, 1974, and 1982.

Elias Figueroa

LB: Nicolas Fuentes (Peru)Despite only played 17 times for Peru, he was considered one of Peru's greatest defender. He was a member of Peru's Golden Generation in the 1970's. He played mainly with Club Universitario de Deportes.LB: Catalino Rivarola (Paraguay)He won the Copa Libertadores in1995 with Gremio and another title in 1999 with Palmeiras. He was a member of the great defensive unit of Paraguay in the 1990's.DM: Jose Velazquez (Peru)He was not a member of Peru's 1970 team, but he won the Copa America in 1975. He participated at the WC Finals in 1974, 1978 and 1982. He is considered one of the greatest defensive midfieders in South America.At club level he played for Alianza Lima in Peru, where he was part of three league championship winning campaigns (1975, 1977 & 1978). He also played for Independiente Medellín of Colombia, Hércules CF of Spain and Deportes Iquique of Chile.CM: Carlos Valderrama (Colombia)Nicknamed El Pibe, he was Colombia's greatest ever player. He was one of the best passers ever from South America. He was twice South America Player of the Year in 1987 and in 1993. Between 1985 and 1998 he represented Colombia in 111 full internationals and scored 11 times, making him the most capped player in the country's history.

El Pibe

LW: Juan Joya (Peru)He was one of the best left wing in South American history. He won 11 titles with Penarol, including two Copa Libertadores and a two Copa Intercontinental. He played 9 times for Peru and once for Uruguay.

LW: Leonel Sanchez (Chile)He was Chile's record cap holder until 2014. He was one of the greatest left wingers ever. He scored 4 goals in the 1962 World Cup Finals, where he finsihed a joint-top scorer.AM: Cesar Cueto (Peru)Nicknamed "El Poeta de la zurda" (the Left-footed Poet). He was a key player in Peru's Golden Generation.He played in 3 WC Finals and wo the 1975 Copa America. He played club football in Colombia and Peru.AM: Teofilo Cubillas (Peru)He is Peru's greatest ever player. He was a part of three WC teams: 1970, 1978, 1982.He is one of only three players to score five or more goals in two different World Cups. He finished Number 17 at the South American Player of the Century award in 2006. He is associated with Alianza Lima, butr also played in Portugal, Switzerland and the United States.

Cubillas

AM: Julio Cesar Romero (Paraguay)He was considered the best outfielder in Paraguay's history. He played in the USA with NY Cosmos. He led Paraguay to qualify for the WC in 1986. He was South American Player of the Year in 1985.

AM: Marco Etcheverry (Bolivia)He was one of the best ever Bolivian player and one of the best players to have played in MLS. He was an important player as Bolivia beat Brazil in 1993 and qualified for their first WC Finals in 1994. He was capped 71 times. For his professionbal career, he played in Spain, Colombia and Chile before he moved to MLS in 1996 where he became a star. He won 3 MLS Cups with DC United.

RW/FW: Hugo Sotil (Peru)He was a key member of Peru's Golden Generation in the 1970's. He played with Johan Cruyff at Barcelona where he was a fan favorite.

ST: Arsenio Erico (Paraguay)He is the all-time highest goalscorer in the Argentine first division, with 295 goals, all of them scored with Independiente . He is considered the best Paraguayan footballer of all time. He was Alfredo Di Stefano's idol.

Arsenio Erico

ST: Alberto Spencer (Ecuador)He was known as "Cabeza Mágica" (Spanish for magic head). He is still the all-time leading scorer in the Copa Libertadores' history. He won three Libertadores Cups and two Intercontinental Cups with Penarol. He was elected the 20th best South American footballer of the 20th century in a poll by the IFFHS in 2004

ST: Teodoro Fernández (Peru)He was part of the Peruvian squad that reached quarter-finals in the 1936 Olympic Games. He won the 1939 Copa America, a tournament in which he emerged as the top scorer and best players. He is the second top scorer in the history for his country.

Squad Explanation Marco Etcheverry is the biggest surprise of the team. Basically, I want to include a player from Bolivia and I also happened to be a fan of his. I could not find space Ivan Zamorano and Victor Benitez. James Rodriguez led Colombia to
the WC quarterfinal and won the Golden boot, but he has not done enough
to earn a spot. Starting lineup Formation I: 4-2-3-1I
tried to recreate Peru of the 1970 with this team. Although Peru did
not use this formation, I brought their players who also have the same
playmaking abilities. I started two of the three Peruvian midfielders
from Peru of the 1970. I only left out Sotil and replaced him with
Romeo. My team also included Valderrama who was perhaps one of the
greatest passers ever from South America. I opted to start Alberto
Spencer who was more of a classic #9.

Formation II: strikerless systemMy team is blessed with great playmakers. I can copy the playbook from Spain of 2012 and play with a strikerless formation.